IV.
HONG KONG AND CHINA
(a)
Sino-British Relations
Her Majesty's Government remain
committed to full
The
implementation of the Joint Declaration. Relations with the Chinese Government over Hong Kong have been dominated in 1992 by disagreement over the airport financing package and the
Governor's proposals for constitutional reform. Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs met in March and September to discuss a wide range of issues affecting Hong Kong. In early July, the Prime Minister's Special Envoy, Sir John Coles, visited Peking to try to resolve the impasse over the airport funding package. Subsequently there were several rounds of talks in the Airport Committee in which revised proposals were made by the British side based on Chinese suggestions. So far these talks have not met with success.
On
7 October, the Governor of Hong Kong made his first Policy Address to the Legislative Council in which, inter alia, he
outlined proposals for broadening democracy in Hong Kong. These proposals have the full backing of HMG. They are
consistent with the Basic Law which comes into force on 1 The proposals enjoy strong support from the people of Hong Kong. The Governor explained the thinking behind his proposals to the Chinese Government during his
July 1997.
Peking from 21 to 23 October, and made clear his
visit to
wish to hold discussions on
them.
[Result to end of the
year.]
(b)
Sino-British
Commission
Joint
Liaison Group and Land
2.
The Joint Liaison
Group held four plenary meetings during the year: one in Peking in June, one in London in
September and
meetings were
and informal,
Group.
two in Hong Kong in March and December. These supplemented by frequent contact, both formal between the two offices of the Joint Liaison
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